$5,000 in 1917 is worth $130,852 today
$5,000 in 1917 has the same buying power as
$130,852 in August 2026
That is 2,517% more, an average inflation rate of 3.04% a year over 109 years.
Put the other way, $5,000 today buys what $191.06 bought in 1917. Cash kept under the mattress since 1917 has lost 96% of its value.
$5,000 from nearby years
| $5,000 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | $169,182 | |
| 1914 | $167,490 | 1.0% |
| 1915 | $165,832 | 1.0% |
| 1916 | $153,661 | 7.9% |
| 1917 | $130,852 | 17.4% |
| 1918 | $110,921 | 18.0% |
| 1919 | $96,815.03 | 14.6% |
| 1920 | $83,745.00 | 15.6% |
| 1921 | $93,569.83 | -10.5% |
| 1922 | $99,696.43 | -6.1% |
How $5,000 from 1917 grew
$5,000 of 1917 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5,000 spent on each of these in 1917 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $120,834 |
| Rent | $105,896 |
| Electricity | $37,811.83 |
| Clothing | $33,849.50 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5,000 in 1917 worth today?
- $5,000 in 1917 is worth $130,852 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5,000 in 1917?
- You would need $130,852 to buy what $5,000 bought in 1917. That is 26.17 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5,000 lost since 1917?
- Kept as cash, $5,000 from 1917 buys only what $191.06 of 1917 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1917?
- Prices rose 17.4% in 1917. Since then the average has been 3.04% a year.
Other amounts from 1917
- $1 in 1917
- $5 in 1917
- $10 in 1917
- $20 in 1917
- $50 in 1917
- $100 in 1917
- $500 in 1917
- $1,000 in 1917
- $10,000 in 1917
- $20,000 in 1917
- $50,000 in 1917
- $100,000 in 1917
- $1 million in 1917